Brookhaven’s deep-freeze defense put a chill on West Lincoln’sshooting Thursday night in Jack Case Gymnasium. The Lady Panthersromped to a 65-12 victory and the Panthers followed with a 59-46win over the homestanding Bears.

The Ole Brook Classic is scheduled Saturday, starting at 3 p.m.with a junior varsity game. Varsity action follows as JacksonProvine plays Crystal Springs in a pair of games, followed by theLady Panthers meeting Jackson Callaway at 7 and the Panthers facingMorton at 8:30.

West Lincoln will host Loyd Star Saturday for 4 games, startingat 1 p.m. with a junior high girls game. Varsity girls actionstarts at 3:15, followed by the varsity boys.

The Lady Panthers (2-0) overwhelmed WestLincoln with superior height and strength. BHS coach Freda Craftonly had 8 varsity players available so the starters got moreaction than anticipated.

Swayze Black, a 6-foot-1 junior forward, paced the Lady Pantherswith 18 points. She also had 15 rebounds and 6 steals, helping herteam take a 40-3 halftime lead.

Senior guard Jermecia Jones pumped in 16 points, sacking 4treys. Nikki Byrd, a 6-2 junior post, followed with 13 points and18 rebounds.

“We shot free throws terrible and we shot terrible from thefloor,” said Craft. “But we did play with intensity and I likedthat.”

Craft’s team used full-court defensive pressure to smother WestLincoln’s attack. The Lady Bears committed 28 turnovers.

West Lincoln coach Lane Young said his inexperienced squad,featuring no seniors and just 1 junior, gave a good effort. “Wecompeted and played hard. Brookhaven’s size killed us.”

The Lady Bears (1-1) got 5 points each from Kacey Smith and KeriEasley. Smith also grabbed 7 rebounds.

The Panthers (2-0) claimed a second straightwin over a Class 1A Lincoln County team last night. They got 15points and 8 rebounds from 6-1 sophomore Calvin Smith, including 9fourth-quarter points when the Bears rallied.

BHS also got some strong perimeter shooting, sacking 8 treys.Keenan Richardson netted 3 treys and finished with 12 points.Donaldmetric Blue hit 2 treys and scored 13 points.

Ole Brook coach Ronald Hines said the cool temperature in thegymnasium affected his team in the early going when they battled toa 7-7, first-quarter deadlock. “The air conditioning really made itfeel cold. We finally got warmed up in the second quarter,” takinga 28-14 halftime lead.

Hines said Smith is learning and improving his basketballskills. “He’s just a 10th grader but Calvin does a good job when hegets on the blocks.”

Hines also praised senior guard Terrance Perkins who hit a pairof treys in the second quarter surge. “Perkins gave us aboost.”

The Bears (0-2) reduced their deficit to 7 points, 37-30, on aputback by Jeremy Byrd but they could come no closer in the thirdquarter. His layup reduced the deficit to 6 points, 41-35, with 6minutes left in the game. Byrd, a junior, finished with a team-high14 points, plus 8 rebounds.

“Our boys have to get on the same page on offense and defense,”said Young. “We are not handling pressure very well. Brookhavenhurt us in the second quarter and their pressure killed us.”

West Lincoln point guard Aaron Shaw finished with 13 points and6 steals. For the game, the Bears suffered 16 turnovers.

Senior post Bradleigh Rice fouled out with 4:34 left in thegame, leaving the Bears shorthanded on the backboards. Rice had 8points and 5 rebounds.

“We have more scorers this year and we are quicker, too,” saidCoach Hines. Brook had 22 turnovers and 7 steals.